Kingscrowd Podcast

Sam Fiske, Kingscrowd
  • 5.0 (2)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Kingscrowd Podcast is your go-to weekly show for all things online private markets. Hosted by serial investor and Kingscrowd VP of Product Brian Belley and retail private markets insider Scott Kitun, the show features the latest news, analysis, and insights from the fast-growing world of equity crowdfunding and retail private equity — with expert commentary from Kingscrowd analysts Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau and Teddy Lyons.

  1. 3D AGO

    Evaluating Totem’s $15M Bet on Offline Navigation Tech

    Brian Belley and Teddy Lyons open the episode with a reminder about Kingscrowd’s upcoming Atlanta Startup Showcase before diving into Totem, a consumer hardware startup building wearable offline tracking devices for concerts, festivals, cruises, and crowded venues (00:00-01:32). Teddy explains how Totem’s proprietary mesh network technology allows users to locate friends and family without relying on cellular service, GPS, or Wi-Fi, and why the product immediately resonated with live event audiences (01:32-05:06). The conversation then shifts toward Totem’s early traction, including 52,000 users, $1.7 million in 2025 revenue, and more than 600 million organic social media views generated with virtually no paid advertising (05:06-08:46). Brian and Teddy debate whether the company’s virality can translate into long-term scalable growth, discussing subscription potential, venue partnerships, hardware margins, and rental opportunities across festivals, cruises, and amusement parks (08:46-14:31). Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau joins later in the episode to question Totem’s customer acquisition durability, pricing strategy, and adoption hurdles, while the team explores how the company may evolve from a viral gadget into a broader consumer platform with recurring venue and analytics opportunities (14:31-17:52).

    18 min

  2. MAY 6

    Why Private Market Funds Are Exploding in 2026

    Brian Belley and Scott Kitun open the episode by discussing Scott’s new role and the launch of GigaStar Capital before zooming out to a larger trend: the rise of private market funds for both accredited and retail investors (00:00–03:40). Scott explains how the new creator-focused fund is built around revenue streams, monthly payouts, and the idea of creator income as a kind of “digital real estate,” while Brian compares the fund structure to broader shifts happening across Fundrise, AngelList, Robinhood, Republic, and other private market products (03:40–11:25). The conversation then breaks down why GigaStar chose a permanent capital vehicle structure, how evergreen funds differ from traditional venture funds, and why liquidity, secondary markets, and flexible fund mechanics may matter more as private markets mature (11:25–20:12). Brian and Scott close by debating whether these fund products compete with traditional crowdfunding or expand the overall market, why retail investors may prefer diversified baskets over one-off startup picking, and how platforms like Kingscrowd could help investors compare the growing universe of private market funds (20:12–40:20).

    40 min

  3. APR 28

    KC Podcast: AngelList’s USVC Fund + Alaffia Deal Review — What Retail Investors Need to Know

    AngelList just launched a new registered fund that allows retail investors to access top-tier private companies like OpenAI and Anthropic with just a $500 minimum. In this episode, Brian Belley and Scott Kitun break down what this means for the future of private market investing — and why investors need to look closely at fees, structure, and timing before jumping in. Then, Teddy Lyons and Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau dive into a unique deal review of Alaffia, a clean beauty brand rebuilding after a private equity acquisition disrupted its supply chain. With the founder back and a new team in place, the question becomes: can this company reclaim its growth — and exceed it?   02:30 — What the USVC fund actually is 04:00 — Why this is a big moment for retail investing 06:30 — The hidden issue: secondary exposure 09:00 — Are retail investors buying too late? 11:00 — Fees, carry, and layered fund structures 14:00 — Funds vs picking individual startups 16:00 — Why portfolios may outperform retail investors 18:00 — Long-term expectations (and reality check) 20:00 — Where private market investing is heading 24:30 — Deal review intro: Alaffia 25:30 — Alaffia origin story & private equity impact 28:00 — Financials breakdown & revenue drop 30:00 — Key concern: growth ceiling 32:00 — Private equity case study (Toys “R” Us comparison) 34:00 — Why the new team matters 36:00 — Valuation analysis (~1x revenue) 38:00 — Final takeaways: betting on the team

    41 min

  4. APR 22

    Why Crowdfunding Is Bigger (and More Confusing) Than Ever

    Brian and Scott kick things off by recapping Investment Crowdfunding Week and the growing expansion into new asset classes like creators and collectibles (01:40). They introduce the core idea that crowdfunding has become a “buffet” of opportunities — spanning startups, SMBs, fractional assets, and more (03:05). The conversation then shifts to platform innovation, including new security types, revenue-share structures, and acquisitions like StartEngine’s move into wine investing via Vinovest (07:54). Midway through, Brian shares insights from a global crowdfunding research conference, highlighting how Europe’s market has evolved differently — with more debt-focused investing and less startup-driven hype (22:25). The episode closes with a critical discussion on why crowdfunding hasn’t fully met expectations: retail investors invest too infrequently, with too little capital, and often misunderstand venture-style outcomes — making repeat behavior and portfolio construction the real missing pieces (27:45).

    40 min

  5. MAR 31

    The Illusion of Liquidity in Private Investing

    Register for Investment Crowdfunding Week 2026 Brian and Scott kick things off with a look at Fundrise’s Innovation Fund and a viral investor return story showing shares jumping dramatically post-listing (01:25). They unpack why early trading prices can deviate significantly from net asset value (NAV), and what that means for investors chasing exposure to companies like OpenAI (12:10). The discussion expands into broader private market dynamics — including lockups, limited float, and why early buyers may be price-insensitive (18:43). They then shift into a deeper conversation about liquidity pressures across private equity and credit, where both institutional and retail investors are increasingly seeking exits (19:53). The episode closes with a critical insight: illiquidity isn’t a bug — it’s a feature. But as retail investors enter private markets expecting public-market flexibility, a fundamental mismatch is emerging that could reshape the entire ecosystem (28:50).

    34 min

  6. MAR 24

    New Assets, New Rules: The Evolution of Alternative Investing

    Brian and Scott kick things off with a preview of Investment Crowdfunding Week and the growing importance of the creator economy as an investable asset class (00:13). They recap a recent CFP webinar on emerging investment structures, including the debate around mirror products and synthetic venture exposure (04:19). The conversation then shifts to the realities of investing in late-stage private companies and whether current valuations justify secondary market participation (06:52). They explore how new alternative products are expanding access — but also increasing complexity for everyday investors (08:28). Finally, they discuss recent SEC updates, crypto clarity, and the shutdown of FranShares, using it as a lens to examine what works — and what doesn’t — in building sustainable crowdfunding platforms (10:00+).

    46 min

  7. MAR 10

    Reg CF Reform: What Actually Needs to Change?

    Scott and Teddy open with a look at a new SEC petition proposing structural updates to Regulation Crowdfunding, including raising the Reg CF cap and modernizing fundraising pathways (00:00). They preview Investment Crowdfunding Week and Tim Draper’s keynote before digging into the petition’s core proposals (00:56). The discussion explores whether increasing the $5M cap would meaningfully impact the market (04:03), why Reg CF → Reg A transitions remain clunky (07:18), and how loosening advertising rules could unlock more issuer and investor participation (09:22). Scott shares a hot take on raising minimum investment sizes to improve issuer economics (12:04), while Teddy questions SEC incentives to prioritize Reg CF reform (14:38). They close with a candid discussion on compliance fatigue, why many issuers stop investor updates, and what industry maturity should look like as equity crowdfunding approaches its 10-year mark (16:08).

    21 min

  8. MAR 3

    Retail vs VC: How to Think About Follow-On Investing

    This week on the Kingscrowd Podcast, Teddy, Scott, and Léa break down one of the most important — and often overlooked — questions in startup investing: when should you follow on? Using Pirouette Pharma as a case study, the team explains why Kingscrowd Capital is reinvesting and what milestones matter most when deciding to double down. The conversation explores how retail investors should think differently than institutional VCs, what progress signals real execution, why pro rata participation from prior investors matters, and how valuation discipline plays into blended returns. If you’ve ever wondered whether to invest again in a company you already backed, this episode gives you the framework.

    18 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Kingscrowd Podcast is your go-to weekly show for all things online private markets. Hosted by serial investor and Kingscrowd VP of Product Brian Belley and retail private markets insider Scott Kitun, the show features the latest news, analysis, and insights from the fast-growing world of equity crowdfunding and retail private equity — with expert commentary from Kingscrowd analysts Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau and Teddy Lyons.

Information

  • Creator
    Sam Fiske, Kingscrowd
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Kingscrowd Podcast

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